SANTA CLARA, Calif. – As part of a commitment to sustainable construction, Intel Corporation obtained its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification – the internationally recognized stamp of approval from the U.S. Green Building Council – for Intel Design Center 9 (IDC 9), set to open in Haifa, Israel in June. Securing a Gold-level rating – one of the highest level LEED certifications – IDC 9 is the first building in Israel to receive this level of recognition for sustainable construction.

IDC 9 was built on land previously occupied by a parking lot to not damage any natural resources. Noteworthy elements of the sustainable design and construction include:

* An Intel Xeon processor-based data center that significantly reduces power consumption, with expected annual savings of $200,000.
* An automatic control system that regulates the flow of natural light, exposing more than 75 percent of the most populated areas of the building to sunlight.
* A rooftop garden to enhance thermal insulation and prevent the building from retaining excessive heat.
* An automatic system for measuring carbon dioxide levels in the office space for improved air quality.
* A method for capturing and recycling condensate water from the air conditioning system for irrigation.
* Heating the building with dissipated heat from the air conditioners and data center computers.
* Additional state of the art energy efficiency fixtures, including individually controlled lighting and air conditioning systems.

The sustainable design of IDC 9 results in a net 17 percent reduction in total building energy use as compared with “ordinary” buildings built, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 90.1-2007 standard.

“Intel is committed to incorporating principles of sustainability into the construction of new facilities as well as making strategic improvements to our existing locations so that they may meet the highest standards,” said Brian Krzanich, senior vice president and general manager of Manufacturing and Supply Chain for Intel. “By assigning equal priorities to economic, social and environmental goals, IDC 9 has managed to provide Intel with economic advantages while reducing environmental impact.”

IDC 9 is the marquee of Intel sites striving to meet international green building standards. KM 1, an Intel factory and office building in Kulim, Malaysia, achieved basic LEED certification this month for strategic improvements made to the 14-year-old facility. In the United States, LEED Gold certification is currently pending for Intel’s Ocotillo campus in Chandler, Ariz.